Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018

or

 

Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from                  to                 

Commission file number 1-10948

Office Depot, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

LOGO

 

Delaware   59-2663954

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

6600 North Military Trail, Boca Raton, Florida   33496
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(561) 438-4800

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.:

 

Large accelerated filer

 

  

Accelerated filer

 

Non-accelerated filer

 

☐    (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

  

Smaller reporting company

 

Emerging growth company    ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, as of the latest practicable date: At March 31, 2018, there were 557,846,581 outstanding shares of Office Depot, Inc. Common Stock, $0.01 par value.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1. Financial Statements

  

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

     3  

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)

     4  

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

     5  

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

     6  

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

     7  

Item  2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     26  

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     34  

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

     34  

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

     36  

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

     36  

Item 1A. Risk Factors

     36  

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     37  

Item 6. Exhibits

     38  

SIGNATURES

     39  

EX 31.1

  

EX 31.2

  

EX 32

  

EX 101

  

 

2


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In millions, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

                                     
     13 Weeks Ended  
     March 31,     April 1,  
     2018     2017  

Sales:

    

Products

   $ 2,423     $ 2,460  

Services

     407       216  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Sales

     2,830       2,676  

Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs:

    

Products

     1,891       1,878  

Services

     272       123  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs

     2,163       2,001  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     667       675  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     573       531  

Merger and restructuring expenses, net

     17       20  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     77       124  

Other income (expense):

    

Interest income

     6       6  

Interest expense

     (29     (13

Other income, net

     1       4  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     55       121  

Income tax expense

     22       47  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income from continuing operations

     33       74  

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     8       42  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 41     $ 116  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings per common share

    

Continuing operations

   $ 0.06     $ 0.14  

Discontinued operations

     0.01       0.08  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.07     $ 0.22  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per common share

    

Continuing operations

   $ 0.06     $ 0.14  

Discontinued operations

     0.01       0.08  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.07     $ 0.22  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends per common share

   $ 0.025     $ 0.025  

This report should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements herein and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Office Depot, Inc. Form 10-K filed February 28, 2018 (the “2017 Form 10-K”).

 

3


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In millions)

(Unaudited)

 

                               
     13 Weeks Ended  
     March 31,      April 1,  
     2018      2017  

Net income

   $ 41      $ 116  

Other comprehensive income, net of tax, where applicable:

     

Foreign currency translation adjustments

            6  

Reclassification of foreign currency translation adjustments realized upon disposal of business

     14         
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive income, net of tax, where applicable

     14        6  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

   $ 55      $ 122  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

This report should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements herein and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2017 Form 10-K.

 

4


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

                                     
     March 31,
2018
    December 30,
2017
 

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 737     $ 622  

Receivables, net

     942       931  

Inventories

     1,033       1,093  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     118       86  

Current assets of discontinued operations

     98       139  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     2,928       2,871  

Property and equipment, net

     713       725  

Goodwill

     882       851  

Other intangible assets, net

     448       448  

Timber notes receivable

     858       863  

Deferred income taxes

     295       305  

Other assets

     266       260  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 6,390     $ 6,323  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Trade accounts payable

   $ 969     $ 892  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     1,011       986  

Income taxes payable

     6       5  

Short-term borrowings and current maturities of long-term debt

     93       96  

Current liabilities of discontinued operations

     27       67  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     2,106       2,046  

Deferred income taxes and other long-term liabilities

     331       336  

Pension and postretirement obligations, net

     90       91  

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

     918       936  

Non-recourse debt

     770       776  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     4,215       4,185  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

    

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

     18       18  

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock—authorized 800,000,000 shares of $.01 par value; issued shares – 614,216,218 at March 31, 2018 and 610,353,994 at December 30, 2017

     6       6  

Additional paid-in capital

     2,697       2,711  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (64     (78

Accumulated deficit

     (236     (273

Treasury stock, at cost – 56,369,637 shares at March 31, 2018 and December 30, 2017

     (246     (246
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     2,157       2,120  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and stockholders’ equity

   $ 6,390     $ 6,323  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

This report should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements herein and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2017 Form 10-K.

 

5


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In millions)

(Unaudited)

 

                         
     13 Weeks Ended  
     March 31,
2018
    April 1,
2017
 

Cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations:

    

Net income

   $ 41     $ 116  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     8       42  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income from continuing operations

     33       74  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     51       40  

Charges for losses on inventories and receivables

     14       18  

Compensation expense for share-based payments

     4       11  

Deferred income taxes and deferred tax asset valuation allowances

     19       35  

Changes in working capital and other

     86       (90
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations

     207       88  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities of continuing operations:

    

Capital expenditures

     (37     (30

Businesses acquired, net of cash acquired

     (30      

Proceeds from disposition of assets and other

     1       8  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations

     (66     (22
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities of continuing operations:

    

Net payments on long and short-term borrowings

     (25     (6

Debt related fees

     (1      

Cash dividends on common stock

     (14     (13

Share purchases for taxes, net of proceeds from employee share-based transactions

     (3     (9

Repurchase of common stock for treasury

           (10

Other financing activities

     2        
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities of continuing operations

     (41     (38
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from discontinued operations:

    

Operating activities of discontinued operations

     10       14  

Investing activities of discontinued operations

     30       (49
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations

     40       (35
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (2     2  

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     138       (5

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

     639       807  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period-total

     777       802  

Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations

     (37     (58
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of the period-continuing operations

   $ 740     $ 744  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

This report should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements herein and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2017 Form 10-K.

 

6


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

Office Depot, Inc., including consolidated subsidiaries (“Office Depot” or the “Company”), is a leading omni-channel provider of business services and supplies, products and technology solutions. On November 8, 2017, the Company acquired CompuCom Systems, Inc. (“CompuCom”), refer to Note 2 for additional discussion about this acquisition. The Company currently operates under several banners, including Office Depot ®, OfficeMax ® and CompuCom ® and utilizes proprietary company and product brand names. The Company’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol ODP. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had three reportable segments (or “Divisions”): Business Solutions Division, Retail Division and the CompuCom Division.

In September 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors committed to a plan to sell substantially all of the Company’s International Division operations (the “International Operations”). Accordingly, the Company has presented the International Operations as discontinued operations beginning in the third quarter of 2016. The Company has reclassified the financial results of the International Operations to Discontinued operations, net of tax in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for all periods presented. The Company also reclassified the related assets and liabilities as current assets and liabilities of discontinued operations on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2018, and December 30, 2017. Cash flows from the Company’s discontinued operations are presented separately in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for all periods. Certain portions of the International Division assets and operations primarily consisting of the Company’s global sourcing and trading operations in the Asia/Pacific region are being retained or did not meet the held for sale criteria and therefore remain in continuing operations, with prior periods adjusted, where appropriate. Additional information on the Company’s discontinued operations is provided in Note 4.

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of March 31, 2018, and for the 13-week period ended March 31, 2018 (also referred to as the “first quarter of 2018”) and April 1, 2017 (also referred to as the “first quarter of 2017”) are unaudited. However, in management’s opinion, these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature necessary to provide a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. Business acquisitions in 2017 and the first quarter of 2018 lessen the comparability of financial statement periods presented for the Company as results of operations of acquired businesses are included prospectively from the dates of their acquisition.

As a result of the Company’s purchase of CompuCom in November 2017, the Company’s level of service revenue in the first quarter of 2018 exceeded 10% of the Company’s total revenue and accordingly, revenues and cost of sales from services and products are separately disclosed on the Company’s statement of operations. Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. Note 6 describes the components of the Company’s business included in the product and service categories. In addition, as discussed below, certain amounts have been reclassified due to the Company’s adoption of the new accounting guidance related to the presentation of defined benefit plan expense. These prior period reclassifications did not affect the Company’s net income or cash flows.

The Company has prepared the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Some information and note disclosures, which would normally be included in comprehensive annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those SEC rules and regulations. For a better understanding of the Company and its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, we recommend reading these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conjunction with the audited financial statements which are included in the 2017 Form 10-K. These interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that should be expected for the full year.

Cash Management

The cash management process generally utilizes zero balance accounts which provide for the settlement of the related disbursement and cash concentration accounts on a daily basis. Trade accounts payable and Accrued expenses and other current liabilities as of March 31, 2018 and December 30, 2017, included $54 million and $53 million, respectively, of amounts not yet presented for payment drawn in excess of disbursement account book balances, after considering offset provisions.

At March 31, 2018, cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations held outside the United States amounted to $137 million. Additionally, $37 million of cash held outside the United States was included in current assets of discontinued operations.

 

7


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) – (Continued)

 

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash consists primarily of short-term cash term deposits having original maturity dates of twelve months or less that serve as collateral to certain of the Company’s letters of credit. Restricted cash is valued at cost, which approximates fair value. At March 31, 2018, restricted cash amounted to $3 million and is included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

New Accounting Standards

Standards that are not yet adopted

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an accounting standards update which will require lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets related to the rights and obligations created by those leases. The accounting treatment for lessors will remain relatively unchanged. The accounting standards update also requires additional qualitative and quantitative disclosures related to the nature, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The initial standard required a modified retrospective transition approach, with application, including disclosures, in all comparative periods presented. In March 2018, the FASB tentatively approved an amendment to the new guidance that allows companies the option of using the effective date of the new standard as the date of initial application. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this new standard will have on its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements but anticipates it will result in significant right of use assets and related liabilities associated with its operating leases being recorded on its balance sheet. Substantially all of the Company’s retail store locations, supply chain facilities, certain corporate facilities and copy print equipment are subject to operating lease arrangements. The Company will adopt the standard in the first quarter of 2019, and has begun implementing required upgrades to its existing lease systems. The Company is currently compiling an inventory of arrangements containing a lease and accumulating the lease data necessary to apply the amended guidance.

In February 2018, the FASB issued an accounting standard update to address a specific consequence of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This accounting update allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The standard eliminates the stranded tax effects that were created as a result of the reduction of the historical U.S. federal corporate income tax rate to the newly enacted U.S. federal corporate income tax rate. The accounting update is effective January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted, and is to be applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is recognized. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the new standard on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Standards that were adopted

Revenue recognition

In May 2014, the FASB issued a new standard that supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance and modifies the accounting for certain costs associated with revenue generation. Under the new standard, revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity is entitled to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The standard provides a number of steps to follow to achieve that principle and requires additional financial statement disclosures related to the nature, timing, amount and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The Company adopted the new revenue standard on the first day of the first quarter of 2018, using the modified retrospective method, and applied the standard to contracts that were not complete as of the adoption date. As a result of applying this adoption method, the Company recognized a cumulative effect adjustment of $4 million, net of tax, to its accumulated deficit related to deferral of revenues for its loyalty program as of the first day of the first quarter of 2018.

The most significant impact of the standard on the Company relates to revenues from sales of third-party software which were previously reported on a gross basis, but are reported on a net basis under the new standard, with no change in timing of recognition or impact to gross profit, earnings or cash flows. This impact resulted in a reduction in both sales from services and cost of services of $27 million during the first quarter of 2018. The adoption of the standard also resulted in minor changes related to the timing of revenue recognition associated with the Company’s loyalty program due to the impacts of the loyalty program being presented as a deferral of revenues under the new standard rather than as cost of sales accruals under the previous accounting rules. In addition, the

 

8


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) – (Continued)

 

Company’s balance sheet presentation of its sales return reserve has changed to present a separate return asset and liability, instead of the net presentation used in prior periods. The return asset and liability are included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets and Accrued expenses and other current liabilities, respectively, on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Revenue recognition related to all other products and services remains substantially unchanged.

The following tables summarize the impacts of adopting the new standard on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2018 and Statement of Operations for the first quarter of 2018. Adoption of the new standard had no impact to the cash from or used in operating, financing, or investing activities on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

 

                                     
     First Quarter of 2018  
(In millions)    As reported      As if the
previous
accounting
guidance
was in effect
 

Sales – Products

   $ 2,423      $ 2,427  

Sales – Services

     407        434  

Total Sales

     2,830        2,861  

Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs – Products

     1,891        1,895  

Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs – Services

     272        299  

Total Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs

     2,163        2,194  

Gross profit

     667        667  

Net income

     41        41  

Diluted earnings per share

     0.07        0.07  

 

                                     
     As of March 31, 2018  
(In millions)    As reported      As if  the
previous
accounting

guidance
was in effect
 

Receivables, net

   $ 942      $ 947  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     118        108  

Deferred income taxes

     295        293  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     1,011        1,006  

Stockholders’ equity

     2,157        2,157  

As part of its adoption of the new standard, the Company also implemented new internal controls and key system functionality to enable the preparation of financial information on adoption. Refer to Note 6 for additional disclosures required as a result of the adoption of this new standard.

Defined benefit plan

In March 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standards update which changed the income statement presentation of defined benefit plan expense by requiring that an employer report the service cost component of pension costs in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net benefit pension cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of operating income. The Company adopted the new accounting standards update in the first quarter of 2018. The Company has presented the other components of net periodic benefit cost in Other income, net on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, while the service cost component of pension costs continues to be presented in Selling, general and administrative expenses. Adoption of this new accounting standards update required a retrospective reclassification of $3 million net pension benefit in the first quarter of 2017 from Selling, general and administrative expenses to Other income, net, and did not have an impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets or Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

 

9


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) – (Continued)

 

NOTE 2. ACQUISITIONS

To further the Company’s strategic direction to transform into a more business services-driven platform and strengthen its core business operations, the Company acquired two businesses during the first quarter of 2018. In March 2018, the Company acquired a small independent regional office supply business which is expected to provide the Company with improved access to small and mid-market business customers in select geographic markets within the United States across a diverse assortment of product lines, including cleaning and breakroom, technology and printing, furniture and office supplies. Additionally, in March 2018, the Company acquired an enterprise information technology solutions integrator and managed services provider which is expected to provide the Company with a platform for selling Internet of Things (“IoT”) related hardware and projects to the education market. IoT refers to the connection of intelligent systems and devices to allow them to automatically share information so that systems and devices work together to develop and enhance solutions and reduce human intervention.

The aggregate total purchase consideration, including contingent consideration, for these two acquisitions was approximately $47 million, subject to certain customary post-closing adjustments. The aggregate purchase price was primarily funded with cash on hand, with the remainder consisting of contingent consideration to be paid in 2019. The acquisitions were treated as purchases in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”) which requires allocation of the purchase price to the estimated fair values of assets and liabilities acquired in the transaction, and include certain amortizing intangible assets and goodwill. The Company has performed its preliminary purchase price allocations of the $47 million aggregate purchase price to the estimated fair values of assets and liabilities acquired in the transactions, including $8 million of customer relationship intangible assets and $33 million of goodwill. The remaining aggregate purchase price was primarily allocated to working capital accounts. These assets and liabilities are included in the balance sheet as of March 31, 2018. As additional information is obtained about these assets and liabilities within the measurement period (not to exceed one year from the date of acquisition), the Company will refine its estimates of fair value to allocate the purchase price. The operating results of the office supply business is combined with the Company’s operating results subsequent to its purchase date, and is included in the Business Solutions Division. The operating results of the technology business is combined with the Company’s operating results subsequent to its purchase date, and is included in the CompuCom Division. Certain disclosures set forth under ASC 805, including supplemental pro forma financial information, are not required because the operating results of the acquired businesses, in the aggregate, are not material to the Company.

On November 8, 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of CompuCom by acquiring all of the capital stock of CompuCom for approximately $937 million, funded with a new $750 million 5-year term loan facility, approximately 44 million shares of Office Depot common stock with an approximate market value of $135 million, and approximately $52 million of cash on hand. CompuCom procures, installs and manages the lifecycle of hardware and software for businesses, and offers IT support services including remote help desk, data centers and on-site IT professionals. The Company has performed the preliminary purchase price allocation as of the acquisition date. The preliminary purchase price allocation will be finalized during the measurement period which will not exceed one year from the acquisition date. Refer to Note 2 in the Company’s 2017 Form 10-K for further information over the preliminary allocation of total purchase consideration for CompuCom. As the Company has worked to complete the purchase price allocation during the measurement period, certain preliminary values have been adjusted since the acquisition date. These adjustments were insignificant individually and in the aggregate to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Under the guidance on accounting for business combinations, merger and integration costs are not included as components of consideration transferred but are accounted for as expenses in the period in which the costs are incurred. Transaction-related expenses are included in the Merger and restructuring expense, net line in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Refer to Note 3 for additional information about the expenses incurred during the first quarter of 2018.

As part of the purchase of CompuCom, the Company acquired a redeemable noncontrolling equity interest in a consolidated subsidiary of CompuCom. In April 2018, subsequent to the end of the Company’s first quarter of 2018, the Company acquired the remaining ownership interest in the subsidiary of CompuCom for cash consideration of $18 million.

 

10


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) – (Continued)

 

NOTE 3. MERGER AND RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITY

In recent years, the Company has taken actions to adapt to changing and competitive conditions. These actions include acquiring businesses, closing facilities, consolidating functional activities, eliminating redundant positions, disposing of businesses and assets, and taking actions to improve process efficiencies. The expenses and any income recognized directly associated with these actions are included in Merger and restructuring expenses, net on a separate line in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations in order to identify these activities apart from the expenses incurred to sell to and service its customers. These expenses are not included in the determination of Division operating income. The table below summarizes the major components of Merger and restructuring expenses, net.

 

     First Quarter  
(In millions)    2018      2017  

Merger and transaction related expenses, net

     

Severance and retention

   $ 2      $ —    

Transaction and integration

     7        6  

Facility closure, contract termination, and other expenses, net

     3        4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Merger and transaction related expenses, net

     12        10  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Restructuring expenses

     

Severance

     —          9  

Facility closure, contract termination, professional fees and other expenses, net

     5        1  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Restructuring expenses

     5        10  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Merger and restructuring expenses, net

   $ 17      $ 20  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Merger and transaction related expenses, net

Included in the 2018 Merger and transaction related expenses, net in the table above are expenses associated with the acquisitions in the first quarter of 2018 and fiscal 2017, including CompuCom. Transaction and integration expenses in 2018 primarily related to legal, accounting, and other third-party costs incurred by the Company associated with the acquisitions and integration of acquired companies. Such costs are being recognized as incurred. Severance and retention expenses include retention amounts incurred related to the integration of staff functions and are being expensed through the retention period as well as termination benefits related to certain supply chain integration activities. Also included in the Merger and transaction related expenses, net in the first quarter of 2018 in the table above are $3 million of integration expenses and $3 million of facility closure costs associated with the 2013 OfficeMax merger.

2017 Merger and transaction related expenses, net, are related to costs associated with the 2013 OfficeMax merger and include a gain of $1 million from the sale of a warehouse facility as part of a supply chain integration plan.

Restructuring expenses

During 2017, the Company announced a multi-year strategic transformation to pivot from a traditional office product retailer to a broader omni-channel business services, product and technology provider which included the acquisition of CompuCom. As part of the new strategy, the Company will expand its technology and business service offerings and accelerate the offering of new subscription-based services, including expanding its service offering to address the needs of small businesses. As part of this multi-year strategic shift, the Company anticipates incurring additional costs over the next few years including professional fees, severance and other related costs. Included in restructuring expenses in the first quarter of 2018 in the table above are professional fees of $4 million associated with this restructuring plan.

 

11


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) – (Continued)

 

Restructuring expense in 2017 and $1 million of restructuring costs in the first quarter of 2018 were associated with the Comprehensive Business Review strategy (the “Comprehensive Business Review”) announced in August 2016 which included the closure of approximately 300 retail stores in North America over a three-year period, and the reduction of operating and general and administrative expenses through efficiencies and organizational optimization. The Company incurred approximately $99 million in costs to implement the cost savings programs to date.

Expenses associated with implementing the Comprehensive Business Review include severance, facility closure costs, contract termination, accelerated depreciation, professional fees, relocation and disposal gains and losses, as well as other costs associated with the store closures. The Company has completed 137 of the planned 300 retail store closures since announcing this initiative. The Company will continue to re-evaluate the store closure program on an annual basis. Severance costs related to planned store closures are being accrued through the anticipated facility closure or termination date and consider timing, terms of existing severance plans, expected employee turnover and attrition. Restructuring expenses also include severance and reorganization costs associated with reductions in staff functions that continued into 2017.

Merger and Restructuring Accruals

The activity in the merger and restructuring accruals in the first quarter of 2018 is presented in the table below. Of the total $17 million of expense presented in Merger and restructuring expenses, net in the first quarter of 2018 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, $6 million is related to Merger and restructuring liabilities and are included as Charges incurred in the table below. The remaining $11 million of expense is comprised of $3 million of Merger transaction and integration expenses and $8 million in property expenses, professional fees, non-cash items and other expenses. These charges are excluded from the table below because they are expensed as incurred, or otherwise not associated with the merger and restructuring balance sheet accounts.

 

                                                                                                   
(In millions)    Balance as of
December 30,
2017
     Charges
Incurred
     Cash
Payments
     Balance as of
March 31,
2018
 

Termination benefits:

           

Merger-related accruals

   $ 1      $ 2      $ —        $ 3  

Comprehensive Business Review

     4        —          —          4  

Lease and contract obligations, accruals for facilities closures and other costs:

           

Merger-related accruals

     16        1        (4      13  

Comprehensive Business Review

     9        —          (4      5  

Acquisition related accruals

     2        3        (4      1  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 32      $ 6      $ (12    $ 26  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The short-term and long-term components of these liabilities are included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities and Deferred income taxes and other long-term liabilities, respectively, on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

12


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) – (Continued)

 

NOTE 4. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

In the third quarter of 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a plan to sell substantially all of the International Operations through four disposal groups (Europe, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, and mainland China). Collectively, these dispositions represented a strategic shift that had a major impact on the Company’s operations and financial results and have been accounted for as discontinued operations. The Company is presenting the operating results and cash flows of these disposal groups within discontinued operations through their respective dates of disposal, including all prior periods. The assets and liabilities of the disposal groups remaining at the end of each period are presented as current assets and liabilities of discontinued operations in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Certain portions of the former International Division assets and operations are being retained and, therefore, remain in continuing operations. The retained global sourcing operations are presented as Other in Note 13, Segment Information.

As of the end of Fiscal 2017, the Company sold its European, South Korean and mainland China businesses. In April 2017, the Company entered into a definitive sale and purchase agreement to sell the Company’s Australian and New Zealand business operations, subject to regulatory approval. In November 2017, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission announced that it would not oppose the sale, however, the Commerce Commission of New Zealand (the “Commerce Commission”) filed proceedings in the High Court at Auckland to enjoin the contemplated transaction. As a result of the delay in gaining regulatory approval in New Zealand, in February 2018, the Company and the purchaser amended the sale and purchase agreement to sell the Australian and New Zealand businesses in two separate transactions.

The sale of the Company’s business in Australia was completed on February 5, 2018. The transaction was structured and accounted for as an equity sale. The Company agreed to provide certain transitional services to the purchaser until the sale of the New Zealand business was settled. Prior to the sale, the Company had recorded an aggregate reduction of $44 million in 2017 and 2016 to the carrying amount of its Australia Business based on its updated estimates of fair value less cost to sell. The disposition of the business in Australia resulted in a pre-tax loss on sale of $1 million during the first quarter of 2018, which has been reflected in the Net loss on sale of discontinued operations in the table below, resulting in a cumulative loss of $45 million.

The purchaser placed in escrow $7 million in connection with the amendment of the sale and purchase agreement. In addition, the purchaser had previously paid the Company $8 million in 2017 to extend the original purchase agreement which was to be applied to the purchase price when the transaction was completed or, if not successfully completed, be treated as a break fee. This amount is presented in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Both the $7 million in escrow and the previous $8 million received by the Company will be applied to the purchase price of New Zealand when the transaction is completed. In April 2018, subsequent to the end of the Company’s first quarter of 2018, the Commerce Commission withdrew its objection to the sale of the Company’s New Zealand business to the purchaser, and on May 4, 2018, the Company completed the sale of its New Zealand business.

Prior to its sale on May 4, 2018, the Company recorded an adjustment of $1 million in the first quarter of 2018 to its carrying amount of the New Zealand business that is held for sale based on its updated estimate of fair value less cost to sell. The adjustment resulted in an increase in the related valuation allowance and is included in the Net (increase) reduction of loss on discontinued operations held for sale in the table below. The adjusted carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount at the time these operations were initially classified as held for sale. Until the closing date, the Company operated the New Zealand business in the ordinary course.

Associated with the Company’s sale of its European business operations in 2016, the sale and purchase agreement (the “SPA”) contained customary warranties of the Company and the purchaser, with the Company’s warranties limited to an aggregate of EUR 10 million. The Company monitors its estimated exposure to liabilities under the warranties under the SPA, and as of March 31, 2018, the Company believes it has made adequate provisions for its potential exposures related to these warranties. The Company will continue to provide various transition and product sourcing services to the purchaser of the European business operations for a period of up to 24 months following the closing date of December 31, 2016, under a separate agreement. The proceeds and related costs from these services are not material and are presented in Other income, net as part of continuing operations in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company also retains certain guarantees in place with respect to the liabilities or obligations of the European business and remains contingently liable for these obligations. However, the purchaser must indemnify and hold the Company harmless for any losses in connection with these guarantees. The Company currently does not believe it is probable it would be required to perform under any of these guarantees or any of the underlying obligations.

 

13


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) – (Continued)

 

The major components of Discontinued operations, net of tax presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations are presented below. The results include the operations of the businesses sold up to the dates of sale.

 

     First Quarter  
(In millions)    2018      2017  

Sales

   $ 94      $ 168  

Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs

     72        136  

Operating expenses

     17        27  

Restructuring charges

     —          1  

Other income (expense), net

     (2      1  

Net (increase) reduction of loss on discontinued operations held for sale

     (1      38  

Net loss on sale of discontinued operations

     1        —    

Income tax expense (benefit)

     (7      1  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Discontinued operations, net of tax

   $ 8      $ 42  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Assets and liabilities of discontinued operations presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2018, and December 30, 2017 are included in the following table. The sale of the business in Australia was completed in February 2018, and therefore the assets and liabilities of this business are not included in the March 31, 2018 period presented below.

 

                                     
(In millions)    March 31,
2018
     December 30,
2017
 

Assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 37      $ 14  

Receivables, net

     26        64  

Inventories

     31        78  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     1        4  

Property and equipment, net

     14        31  

Other assets

     2        3  

Valuation allowance

     (13      (55
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Current assets of discontinued operations

   $ 98      $ 139  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

     

Trade accounts payable

   $ 15      $ 38  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     10        24  

Deferred income taxes and other long-term liabilities

     2        5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Current liabilities of discontinued operations

   $ 27      $ 67  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

14


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) – (Continued)

 

NOTE 5. DEBT

In May 2011, Office Depot entered into an amended and restated credit agreement, which was amended and restated in May 2016 for an additional five years, and was further amended in December 2016 and November 2017 (the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement including all amendments is referred to as the “Amended Credit Agreement”). The $1.2 billion facility will mature on May 13, 2021.

At March 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $881 million of available credit under the Amended Credit Agreement, and had letters of credit outstanding under the Amended Credit Agreement of $76 million. There were no borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement in the first quarter of 2018 and the Company was in compliance with all applicable financial covenants at March 31, 2018.

In connection with the consummation of the acquisition of CompuCom, the Company entered into a credit agreement, dated as of November 8, 2017 (the “Term Loan Credit Agreement”), which provides for a $750 million term loan facility with a maturity date of November 8, 2022. The Amended Credit Agreement was further amended to permit, among other things, certain matters relating to the Term Loan Credit Agreement. The Company was in compliance with all applicable financial covenants associated with the Term Loan Credit Agreement at March 31, 2018.

NOTE 6. REVENUE RECOGNITION

Products and Services Revenue

The following table provides information about disaggregated revenue by Division, and major product and service categories.

 

                                                                                              
     First Quarter of 2018  
(In millions)    Business
Solutions
Division
     Retail
Division
     CompuCom
Division
     Other      Total  

Major products and services categories

              

Products

              

Supplies

   $ 735      $ 468      $ —        $ 1      $ 1,204  

Technology

     354        539        46        —          939  

Furniture and other

     172        108        —          —          280  

Services

              

Technology

     —          9        210        —          219  

Other

     67        120        1        —          188  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,328      $ 1,244      $ 257      $ 1      $ 2,830  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Products revenue

Products revenue includes the sale of (1) supplies such as paper, writing instruments, office supplies, cleaning and breakroom items, (2) technology related products such as toner and ink, printers, computers, tablets and accessories, electronic storage, and (3) furniture and other products such as desks, seating, and luggage.

The Company sells its supplies, furniture and other products through its Retail and Business Solutions Divisions, and its technology products through all three Divisions. Customers can purchase products through the Company’s retail stores, electronically through its internet sites, or through its call centers. Revenues from supplies, technology, and furniture and other product sales are recognized when the customer obtains control of the Company’s product, which occurs at a point in time, typically upon delivery to the customer.

Furniture and other products also include arrangements where customers can make special furniture interior design and installation orders that are customized to their needs. The performance obligations related to these arrangements are satisfied over time.

 

15


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) – (Continued)

 

Services revenue

Services revenue includes (1) technology service offerings provided through the Company’s CompuCom Division, such as end user computing, data center management, service desk, network infrastructure, IT workforce solutions, mobile device management and cloud services, as well as technology service offerings provided in its retail stores, such as installation and repair, and (2) other service offerings such as copy and print services, managed print and fulfillment services, product subscriptions, and sales of third party software, gift cards, and warranties, as well as rental income on operating lease arrangements where the Company conveys to its customers the right to use devices and other equipment for a stated period.

The largest offering in the service technology category is end user computing, which provides on-site services to assist corporate end users with their information technology needs. Services are either billed on a rate per hour or on a fixed monthly retainer basis. For the majority of technology service offerings contracts, the Company has the right to invoice the customer in an amount that directly corresponds with the value to the customer of the Company’s performance to date and as such the Company recognizes revenue based on the amount billable to the customer in accordance with the practical expedient provided by the current revenue guidance.

Substantially all of the Company’s other service offerings are satisfied at a point in time and revenue is recognized as such. The largest other service offering is copy and print services, which includes printing, copying, and digital imaging. The majority of copy and print services are fulfilled through retail stores and the related performance obligations are satisfied within a short period of time (generally within the same day).

Revenue Recognition and Significant Judgments

Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of promised products or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company is entitled to receive in exchange for those products or services. For product sales, transfer of control occurs at a point in time, typically upon delivery to the customer. For service offerings, the transfer of control and satisfaction of the performance obligation is either over time or at a point in time. When performance obligations are satisfied over time, the Company evaluates the pattern of delivery and progress each reporting period and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of performance and related revenue recognition. Revenue is recognized net of allowance for returns and net of any taxes collected from customers, which are subsequently remitted to governmental authorities. Shipping and handling costs are considered fulfillment activities and are recognized within the Company’s cost of goods sold.

Contracts with customers could include promises to transfer multiple products and services to a customer. Determining whether products and services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately versus together may require significant judgment. Determining the standalone selling price also requires judgement. The Company did not have significant revenues generated from such contracts during the first quarter of 2018.

Products are generally sold with a right of return and the Company may provide other incentives, such as rebates and coupons, which are accounted for as variable consideration when estimating the amount of revenue to recognize. Returns and incentives are estimated at contract inception and updated at the end of each reporting period as additional information becomes available and only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of any incremental revenue will not occur.

The Company offers a customer loyalty program that provides customers with rewards that can be applied to future purchases or other incentives. Loyalty rewards are accounted for as a separate performance obligation and a deferred liability is recorded in the amount of the transaction price allocated to the rewards, inclusive of the impact of estimated breakage. The estimated breakage of loyalty rewards is based on historical redemption rates experienced under the loyalty program. Revenue is recognized when the loyalty rewards are redeemed or expire. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had $22 million of deferred liability related to the loyalty program, which is included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Contract Balances

The timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. A receivable is recognized in the period the Company delivers goods or provide services, and is recorded at the invoiced amount, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. A receivable is also recognized for unbilled services where the Company’s right to consideration is unconditional, and is recorded based on an estimate of time and materials. Payment terms and conditions vary by contract type, although terms generally include a requirement of payment within 20 to 60 days. In instances where the timing of revenue recognition differs from the timing of invoicing, the Company has determined that the contracts do not include a significant financing component. The primary purpose of the Company’s invoicing terms is to provide customers with simplified and predictable ways of purchasing its products and services.

 

16


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) – (Continued)

 

The Company receives payments from customers based upon contractual billing schedules. Contract assets include amounts related to deferred contract acquisition costs (refer to the section “Costs to Obtain a Contract” below) and if applicable, the Company’s conditional right to consideration for completed performance under a contract. During the first quarter of 2018, the Company did not have any contract assets related to conditional rights. The short and long-term components of contract assets in the table below are included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets, and Other assets, respectively, in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Contract liabilities include payments received in advance of performance under the contract, and are recognized as revenue when the performance obligation is completed under the contract, as well as accrued contract acquisition costs, liabilities related to the Company’s loyalty program and gift cards. The short and long-term components of contract liabilities in the table below are included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities, and Deferred income taxes and other long-term liabilities, respectively, in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table provides information about receivables, contract assets and contract liabilities from contracts with customers:

 

                                                 
In millions    As of
March 31, 2018
     At Adoption  

Receivables, net

   $ 942      $ 931  

Short-term contract assets

     22        20  

Long-term contract assets

     17        11  

Short-term contract liabilities

     63        60  

Long-term contract liabilities

     1        —    

The Company recognized revenues of $25 million during the first quarter of 2018 which were included in the short-term contract liability balance at the beginning of the period. There were no contract assets and liabilities that were recognized during the first quarter of 2018 as a result of business combinations. There were no significant adjustments to revenue from performance obligations satisfied in previous periods and there were no contract assets recognized at the beginning of the period that transferred to receivables during the first quarter of 2018.

Substantially all of the purchase orders and statements of work related to contracts with customers require delivery of the product or service within one year or less. For certain service contracts that exceed one year, the Company recognizes revenue at the amount to which it has the right to invoice for services performed. Accordingly, the Company has applied the optional exemption provided by the new revenue recognition standard relating to unsatisfied performance obligations and does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for its contracts.

Costs to Obtain a Contract

The Company recognizes an asset for the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if it expects the benefit of those costs to be longer than one year. The Company has determined that certain rebate incentive programs meet the requirements to be capitalized. These costs are periodically reviewed for impairment, and are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected period of benefit. As of March 31, 2018, capitalized acquisition costs amounted to $39 million, which is reflected in short-term contract assets and long-term contract assets in the table above. During the first quarter of 2018, amortization expense was $7 million, and there was no impairment loss in relation to costs capitalized. The Company had no asset impairment charges related to contract assets in the period.

 

17


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) – (Continued)

 

NOTE 7. INCOME TAXES

The Company’s effective rate for the first quarter of 2018 differs from the statutory rate of 21% enacted as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on December 22, 2017 in the United States due to the impact of excess tax deficiencies associated with stock-based compensation awards, the impact of state taxes and certain nondeductible items and the mix of income and losses across U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions. The Company’s effective tax rates in prior periods have varied considerably as a result of two primary factors, 1) the mix of income and losses across U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions, and 2) the derecognition of valuation allowances against deferred tax assets that were not more-likely-than-not realizable in the U.S. and certain non-U.S. jurisdictions. During 2018 and 2017, the mix of income and losses across jurisdictions, although still applicable, has become less of a factor in influencing the Company’s effective tax rates due to the dispositions of the international businesses and improved operating results. In addition, during 2017 a large portion of the Company’s deferred tax assets that previously were not realizable, became realizable, thereby, causing significant reductions in previously established valuation allowances. These factors have resulted in the Company’s effective tax rates being 40% for the first quarter of 2018 and 39% for the first quarter of 2017. Changes in pretax income projections and the mix of income across jurisdictions could impact the effective tax rate in future quarters.

During the third quarter of 2017, the Company concluded that it was more likely than not that a benefit from a significant portion of its U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets would be realized. This conclusion was based on a detailed evaluation of all available positive and negative evidence and the weight of such evidence, the current financial position and results of operations for the current and preceding years, and the expectation of continued earnings. The Company determined that its U.S. federal and state valuation allowance should be reduced by approximately $40 million in 2017, with approximately $37 million in the third quarter of 2017 as a discrete non-cash income tax benefit and the remainder as an adjustment to the estimated annual effective tax rate.

The Company continues to have a U.S. valuation allowance for certain U.S. federal credits and state tax attributes, which relate to deferred tax assets that require certain types of income or for income to be earned in certain jurisdictions in order to be realized. The Company will continue to assess the realizability of its deferred tax assets in the U.S. and remaining foreign jurisdictions in future periods. Changes in pretax income projections could impact this evaluation in future periods.

The Company files a U.S. federal income tax return and other income tax returns in various states and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state and local income tax examinations for years before 2016 and 2009, respectively. The acquired OfficeMax U.S. consolidated group is no longer subject to U.S. federal examination and with few exceptions, is no longer subject to U.S. state and local tax examinations for years before 2009. The Company’s U.S. federal income tax return for 2016 is currently under review. Generally, the Company is subject to routine examination for years 2008 and forward in its international tax jurisdictions.

It is not reasonably possible that certain tax positions will be resolved within the next 12 months. Additionally, the Company anticipates that it is reasonably possible that new issues will be raised or resolved by tax authorities that may require changes to the balance of unrecognized tax benefits; however, an estimate of such changes cannot be reasonably made.

 

18


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) – (Continued)

 

NOTE 8. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

The following table reflects the changes in Stockholders’ equity.

 

(In millions)

      

Stockholders’ equity at December 30, 2017

   $ 2,120  

Net income

     41  

Dividends paid on common stock

     (14

Share purchase for taxes, net of proceeds on employee-related plans

     (3

Other comprehensive income

     14  

Adjustment for adoption of the new revenue accounting standard

     (4

Amortization of long-term incentive stock grants

     3  
  

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity at March 31, 2018

   $ 2,157  
  

 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) activity, net of tax, where applicable, is provided in the following table:

 

                                                        

(In millions)

   Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustments
     Change in
Deferred
Pension and
Other
     Total  

Balance at December 30, 2017

   $ (43    $ (35    $ (78

Reclassification of foreign currency translation adjustments realized upon disposal of business

     14        —          14  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2018

   $ (29 )     $ (35 )     $ (64 ) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Treasury Stock

In May 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $100 million of its outstanding common stock. In August 2016, the Board of Directors authorized increasing the share repurchase program to $250 million. The stock repurchase authorization permits the Company to repurchase stock from time-to-time through a combination of open market repurchases, privately negotiated transactions, 10b5-1 trading plans, accelerated stock repurchase transactions and/or other derivative transactions. The authorization extends to the end of 2018 and may be suspended or discontinued at any time. The exact number and timing of share repurchases will depend on market conditions and other factors, and will be funded through existing liquidity. However, under the Company’s Term Loan Credit Agreement, the Company’s ability to continue to repurchase its common stock is significantly restricted.

In the first quarter of 2018, the Company made no repurchases of common stock, under the stock repurchase program. As of March 31, 2018, $62 million remains available for repurchase under the current authorization.

Dividends on Common Stock

In the first quarter of 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors declared quarterly cash dividends of $0.025 per share on its common stock, resulting in total cash payments of $14 million. Dividends have been recorded as a reduction to additional paid-in capital as the Company is in an accumulated deficit position. Additionally, payment of dividends is permitted under the Company’s Amended Credit Agreement provided that the Company has the required minimum liquidity or fixed charge ratio, but may be limited if the Company does not meet the necessary requirements. Additionally, under the Company’s Term Loan Credit Agreement, payment of dividends is permitted subject to compliance with an annual limit.

 

19


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) – (Continued)

 

NOTE 9. EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table represents the calculation of net earnings per common share – basic and diluted:

 

     First Quarter  
(In millions, except per share amounts)    2018      2017  

Basic Earnings Per Share

     

Numerator:

     

Net income from continuing operations

   $ 33      $ 74  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     8        42  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 41      $ 116  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator:

     

Weighted-average shares outstanding

     555        515  

Basic earnings per share:

     

Continuing operations

   $ 0.06      $ 0.14  

Discontinued operations

     0.01        0.08  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net earnings per share

   $ 0.07      $ 0.22  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted Earnings Per Share

     

Numerator:

     

Net income from continuing operations

   $ 33      $ 74  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     8        42  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 41      $ 116  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator:

     

Weighted-average shares outstanding

     555        515  

Effect of dilutive securities:

     

Stock options and restricted stock

     8        17  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding

     563        532  

Diluted earnings per share:

     

Continuing operations

   $ 0.06      $ 0.14  

Discontinued operations

     0.01        0.08  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.07      $ 0.22  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Awards of stock options and nonvested shares representing approximately 8 million and 4 million additional shares of common stock were outstanding for the first quarters of 2018 and 2017, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding because their effect would have been antidilutive.

 

20


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) – (Continued)

 

NOTE 10. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans – North America

The components of net periodic pension benefit for the Company’s North America pension plans are as follows:

 

     First Quarter  
(In millions)    2018      2017  

Service cost

   $ 1      $ 2  

Interest cost

     9        10  

Expected return on plan assets

     (11      (12
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net periodic pension benefit

   $ (1    $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

In the first quarter of 2018, cash contributions to the North America pension plans were not significant. The Company expects to make additional cash contributions of approximately $2 million to the North America pension plans during the remainder of 2018.

Pension Plan – United Kingdom

As part of the European business sale, the Company retained the United Kingdom (“UK”) defined benefit pension plan. The components of net periodic pension benefit for the Company’s UK pension plan are as follows:

 

     First Quarter  
(In millions)    2018      2017  

Service cost

   $ —        $ —    

Interest cost

     2        2  

Expected return on plan assets

     (2      (3
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net periodic pension benefit

   $ —        $ (1
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The UK pension plan is in a net asset position. In the first quarter of 2018, cash contributions of $1 million were made to the UK pension plan. The Company is required to make an additional cash contribution of $1 million to the UK pension plan during the remainder of 2018.

Net periodic pension benefits for the North America and UK pension and other postretirement benefit plans (the “Plans”) are recorded at the corporate level. The service cost for the Plans are reflected in Selling, general and administrative expenses, and the other components of net periodic pension benefits are reflected in Other income, net, in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

NOTE 11. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The Company measures fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. In developing its fair value estimates, the Company uses the following hierarchy:

 

Level 1:    Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2:    Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.
Level 3:    Significant unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data. Generally, these fair value measures are model-based valuation techniques such as discounted cash flows or option pricing models using the Company’s own estimates and assumptions or those expected to be used by market participants.

 

21


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) – (Continued)

 

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with GAAP, certain assets and liabilities are required to be recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. The Company’s assets and liabilities that are adjusted to fair value on a recurring basis are money market funds that qualify as cash equivalents, and derivative financial instruments.

As of March 31, 2018, and December 30, 2017, the Company did not have any money market funds that had floating net asset values that required measurement. As part of the purchase of CompuCom on November 8, 2017, the Company acquired a redeemable noncontrolling equity interest in a subsidiary of CompuCom. In accordance with GAAP, the redeemable noncontrolling interest is required to be adjusted to its maximum redemption amount as of each reporting period. The Company used level 2 and 3 inputs in measuring the fair value of the redemption amount of $18 million as of March 31, 2018.

The fair values of the Company’s foreign currency contracts and fuel contracts are the amounts receivable or payable to terminate the agreements at the reporting date, taking into account current interest rates, exchange rates and commodity prices. The values are based on market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data. Amounts associated with these derivative financial instruments are considered Level 1 measurements, but were not significant for the reported periods. At March 31, 2018, and December 30, 2017, Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets included less than $1 million related to derivative foreign currency and fuel contracts.

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements

In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company records certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as required by GAAP. Generally, assets are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as a result of impairment charges that are based on Level 3 measurements. The Company recognized no asset impairment charges associated with continuing operations in the first quarter of 2018.

Other Fair Value Disclosures

The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, trade accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate their carrying values because of their short-term nature.

The following table presents information about financial instruments at the balance sheet dates indicated.

 

                                                                           
     March 31, 2018      December 30, 2017  
(In millions)    Carrying
Value
     Fair
Value
     Carrying
Value
     Fair
Value
 

Timber notes receivable

   $ 858      $ 849      $ 863      $ 865  

Company-owned life insurance

     88        88        90        90  

Financial liabilities:

           

Recourse debt:

           

Term Loan, due 2022

     699        743        717        754  

Revenue bonds, due in varying amounts periodically through 2029

     186        185        186        185  

American & Foreign Power Company, Inc. 5% debentures, due 2030

     14        14        14        14  

Non-recourse debt

     770        764        776        777  

 

22


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) – (Continued)

 

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments:

 

    Timber notes receivable: Fair value is determined as the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the current interest rate for loans of similar terms with comparable credit risk (Level 2 measure).

 

    Company-owned life insurance: In connection with the Merger, the Company acquired company owned life insurance policies on certain former employees. The fair value of the company-owned life insurance policies is derived using determinable net cash surrender value (Level 2 measure).

 

    Recourse debt: Recourse debt for which there were no transactions on the measurement date was valued based on quoted market prices near the measurement date when available or by discounting the future cash flows of each instrument using rates based on the most recently observable trade or using rates currently offered to the Company for similar debt instruments of comparable maturities (Level 2 measure).

 

    Non-recourse debt: Fair value is estimated by discounting the future cash flows of the instrument at rates currently available to the Company for similar instruments of comparable maturities (Level 2 measure).

NOTE 12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal Matters

The Company is involved in litigation arising in the normal course of business. While, from time to time, claims are asserted that make demands for a large sum of money (including, from time to time, actions which are asserted to be maintainable as class action suits), the Company does not believe that contingent liabilities related to these matters (including the matters discussed below), either individually or in the aggregate, will materially affect the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In addition, in the ordinary course of business, sales to and transactions with government customers may be subject to lawsuits, investigations, audits and review by governmental authorities and regulatory agencies, with which the Company cooperates. Many of these lawsuits, investigations, audits and reviews are resolved without material impact to the Company. While claims in these matters may at times assert large demands, the Company does not believe that contingent liabilities related to these matters, either individually or in the aggregate, will materially affect its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In addition to the foregoing, OfficeMax is named a defendant in a number of lawsuits, claims, and proceedings arising out of the operation of certain paper and forest products assets prior to those assets being sold in 2004, for which OfficeMax agreed to retain responsibility. Also, as part of that sale, OfficeMax agreed to retain responsibility for all pending or threatened proceedings and future proceedings alleging asbestos-related injuries arising out of the operation of the paper and forest products assets prior to the closing of the sale. The Company has made provision for losses with respect to the pending proceedings. Additionally, as of March 31, 2018, the Company has made provision for environmental liabilities with respect to certain sites where hazardous substances or other contaminants are or may be located. For these environmental liabilities, our estimated range of reasonably possible losses was approximately $10 million to $25 million. The Company regularly monitors its estimated exposure to these liabilities. As additional information becomes known, these estimates may change, however, the Company does not believe any of these OfficeMax retained proceedings are material to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

23


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) – (Continued)

 

NOTE 13. SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company had two reportable segments during 2017 until the acquisition of CompuCom on November 8, 2017, at which time a third reportable segment was formed for that business based on how the Company is managed. The Business Solutions Division sells office supply products and services across the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada. Business Solutions Division customers are served through dedicated sales forces, catalogs, telesales, and electronically through its internet sites. The Retail Division includes retail stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which offer office supplies, technology products and solutions, business machines and related supplies, print, cleaning, breakroom and facilities products, and office furniture as well as business services including copying, printing, mailing, shipping and technology support services. In addition, the print needs for retail and business customers are also facilitated through the Company’s regional print production centers. The CompuCom Division, which reflects the operations of CompuCom since its acquisition on November 8, 2017, sells information technology (IT) outsourcing services and products to North American enterprise organizations in the United States, Canada and Costa Rica, and offers a broad range of solutions that includes end user computing (tablets, smartphones, laptops and desktops), data center management, service desk, network infrastructure and IT workforce solutions. CompuCom Division customers are served through dedicated IT service and sales representatives, telesales, and electronically through the Company’s internet sites.

The retained global sourcing operations previously included in the International Division are not significant and have been presented as Other.

The Company’s three operating segments are the three reportable segments. The Business Solutions Division, Retail Division and CompuCom Division are managed separately as they represent separate channels in the way we serve our customers and are managed accordingly. The accounting policies for each segment are the same as those described in Note 1 in the Company’s 2017 Form 10-K. Division operating income is determined based on the measure of performance reported internally to manage the business and for resource allocation. This measure charges to the respective Divisions those expenses considered directly or closely related to their operations and allocates support costs. Certain operating expenses and credits are not allocated to the Business Solutions and Retail Divisions, including Asset impairments and Merger and restructuring expenses, net, as well as expenses and credits retained at the Corporate level, including certain management costs and legacy pension and environmental matters. Other companies may charge more or less of these items to their segments and results may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other entities. In addition, the Company regularly evaluates the appropriateness of the reportable segments based on how the business is managed, including making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance of the segments, particularly in light of organizational changes, merger and acquisition activity and changing laws and regulations. Therefore, the current reportable segments may change in the future.

The following is a summary of sales and operating income (loss) by each of the Divisions and Other, reconciled to consolidated totals, after the elimination of the discontinued operations for all periods.

 

     Sales  
     First Quarter  
(In millions)            2018                      2017          

Business Solutions Division

   $ 1,328      $ 1,315  

Retail Division

     1,244        1,358  

CompuCom Division

     257        —    

Other

     1        3  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,830      $ 2,676  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Division Operating Income (loss)  
     First Quarter  
(In millions)    2018      2017  

Business Solutions Division

   $ 55      $ 58  

Retail Division

     72        112  

CompuCom Division

     5        —    

Other

     —          (1
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 132      $ 169  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

24


Table of Contents

OFFICE DEPOT, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) – (Continued)

 

A reconciliation of the measure of Division operating income to Consolidated income from continuing operations before income taxes is as follows:

 

     First Quarter  
(In millions)    2018      2017  

Total Divisions operating income

   $ 132      $ 169  

Add/(subtract):

  

Merger and restructuring expenses, net

     (17      (20

Unallocated expenses

     (38      (25

Interest income

     6        6  

Interest expense

     (29      (13

Other income, net

     1        4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

   $ 55      $ 121  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The components of goodwill by segment are provided in the following table:

 

                                                                           
(In millions)    Business
Solutions

Division
     Retail
Division
     CompuCom
Division
     Total  

Balance as of December 30, 2017

   $ 328      $ 78      $ 445      $ 851  

Acquisitions

     20        —          13        33  

Foreign currency rate impact

     —          —          (3      (3

Purchase accounting adjustments

     —          —          1        1  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance as of March 31, 2018

   $ 348      $ 78      $ 456      $ 882  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Refer to Note 2 for additional information on the acquisitions during the first quarter of 2018.

 

25


Table of Contents

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

When using this report, the terms “Office Depot,” “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” mean Office Depot, Inc. and all entities included in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to provide information to assist readers in better understanding and evaluating our financial condition and results of operations. We recommend reading this MD&A in conjunction with our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to those statements included in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as our 2017 Form 10-K.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OVERVIEW

The Company

We are a leading omni-channel provider of business services and supplies, product and technology solutions. We currently operate under several banners, including Office Depot ®, OfficeMax ® and CompuCom ® and utilize proprietary company and product brand names. Our business is comprised of three reportable segments (or “Divisions”) as of the first quarter of 2018. The Business Solutions Division sells office supply products and services in the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada. Business Solutions Division customers are served through dedicated sales forces, through catalogs, telesales, and electronically through our internet sites. The Retail Division includes our retail stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which offer office supplies, technology products and solutions, business machines and related supplies, print, cleaning, breakroom and facilities products, and office furniture. In addition, our Retail Division offers various business-related services targeted to small businesses, technology support services as well as printing, copying, mailing and shipping services. The CompuCom Division consists of CompuCom Systems, Inc. (“CompuCom”) and was formed during the fourth quarter of 2017 after the acquisition of CompuCom. CompuCom Division sells information technology (IT) outsourcing services and products to North American enterprise organizations in the United States, Canada and Costa Rica, and offers a broad range of solutions that includes end user computing (tablets, smartphones, laptops and desktops), data center management, service desk, network infrastructure and IT workforce solutions. CompuCom Division customers are served through dedicated IT service and sales representatives, telesales, and electronically through our internet sites.

Acquisitions

To further our strategic direction to transform into a more services-driven platform and strengthen our core business operations, we acquired two businesses during the first quarter of 2018, in addition to five businesses acquired in 2017, including CompuCom on November 8, 2017, and four small independent regional businesses in August 2017 and October 2017.

In March 2018, we acquired a small independent regional office supply business which will provide us with improved access to small and mid-market business customers in select geographic markets within the United States across a diverse assortment of product lines, including cleaning and breakroom, technology and printing, furniture and office supplies. Additionally, in March 2018, we acquired an enterprise information technology solutions integrator and managed services provider which will provide us with a platform for selling Internet of Things related hardware and projects to the education market. The aggregate total purchase consideration including contingent consideration for the transactions was approximately $47 million, subject to certain customary post-closing adjustments, and were primarily funded with cash on hand. The operating results of the small office supply business is combined with our operating results subsequent to its purchase date, and is included in the Business Solutions Division segment. The operating results of the technology business is combined with our operating results subsequent to its purchase date, and is included in the CompuCom Division segment. Refer to Note 2. “Acquisitions,” in Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Disposition of the International Division – Discontinued Operations

As of the end of Fiscal 2017, we sold our European, South Korean and mainland China businesses. In April 2017, we announced that we had entered into a definitive sale and purchase agreement to sell our businesses in Australia and New Zealand, which was subject to regulatory approval. In November 2017, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission announced that it would not oppose the sale, however, the Commerce Commission of New Zealand (“Commerce Commission”) filed proceedings in the High Court to enjoin the contemplated transaction. As a result of the delay in gaining regulatory approval in New Zealand, we entered into an amended sale and purchase agreement in February 2018 with the purchaser to sell the businesses in Australia and New Zealand in two separate transactions. The sale of the business in Australia was completed on February 5, 2018. We recognized a cumulative loss of $45 million associated with the sale, of which $44 million was previously recognized in 2017 and 2016 in the aggregate, and an additional $1 million loss was recognized at the time of sale. In April 2018, the Commerce Commission withdrew its objection to the sale of our New Zealand business, and on May 4, 2018, we completed the sale of our New Zealand business.

 

26


Table of Contents

Refer to Note 4. “Discontinued Operations,” in Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Restructuring Activity

During 2017, we announced a multi-year strategic transformation to pivot from a traditional office product retailer to a broader omni-channel business services, product and technology provider which included the acquisition of CompuCom. As part of the new strategy, we continue to expand our technology and business service offerings and accelerate the offering of new subscription-based services, including expanding our service offering to address the needs of small businesses. As part of this multi-year strategic shift, we anticipate incurring additional costs over the next few years including professional fees, severance and other related cost.

Continuing Operations

A summary of factors impacting operating results of the continuing operations for the 13-week ended March 31, 2018 (also referred to as “the first quarter of 2018”) and April 1, 2017 (also referred to as “the first quarter of 2017”), is provided below. Additional discussion of the 2018 first quarter results is provided in the narrative that follows this overview.

 

    Sales reported in the first quarter 2018 compared to the same period of the prior year were positively impacted by $257 million of sales from CompuCom partially offset by lower sales related to retail store closures during the last twelve months, lower comparable store sales in the Retail Division and $31 million of lower reported sales revenue related to the adoption of the new revenue recognition accounting guidance.

 

Sales    First Quarter  
(In millions)    2018      2017      Change  

Business Solutions Division

   $ 1,328      $ 1,315        1

Retail Division

     1,244        1,358        (8 )% 

Change in comparable store sales

           (4 )% 

CompuCom Division

     257        —          N/A  

Other

     1        3        (67 )% 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total

   $ 2,830      $ 2,676        6
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

    Total Company gross profit decreased by $8 million in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in the prior year despite higher sales due to a decrease in gross profit as a percentage of sales (“gross margin”). The decrease in the gross margin reflects lower gross margins in both the Retail and Business Solutions Divisions primarily due to store and supply chain costs deleverage on lower retail sales and, in the Business Solutions Division, mainly associated with conversion costs related to the final customer migrations from the legacy OfficeMax platform that was completed during the first quarter of 2018.

 

    Total Company selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $42 million in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017, reflecting $73 million higher expenses related to acquired businesses and higher advertising expenses, partially offset by the closure of stores in North America, lower payroll expenses, operational efficiencies and synergies.

 

    We recorded $17 million of Merger and restructuring expenses, net, in the first quarter of 2018, compared to $20 million of Merger and restructuring expenses, net in the first quarter of 2017. Merger and restructuring expense in the first quarter of 2018 includes $6 million of transaction and integration related costs associated with our acquisition of CompuCom and the other businesses, $6 million of expenses related to continued OfficeMax merger activities and $5 million of expenses associated with restructuring activities. Additional integration and restructuring expenses are expected to be incurred in future periods. Refer to Note 3. “Merger and Restructuring Activity” in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

 

    Our effective tax rate was 40% for the first quarter 2018, which was influenced by the impact of excess tax deficiencies associated with stock-based compensation awards, the impact of state taxes and certain nondeductible items and the mix of income and losses across U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions. The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2017 was 39% and was primarily impacted by the effect of state taxes and nondeductible expenses.

 

27


Table of Contents
    Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations was $0.06 in the first quarter of 2018 compared to $0.14 in the first quarter of 2017.

 

    Diluted earnings per share from discontinued operations was $0.01 in the first quarter of 2018 compared to $0.08 per share in the first quarter of 2017.

 

    Net diluted earnings per share was $0.07 in the first quarter of 2018 compared to earnings of $0.22 per share in the first quarter of 2017.

 

    In March 2018, the Company paid a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of $0.025 per share, resulting in a total cash payment of $14 million.

OPERATING RESULTS

Discussion of additional income and expense items, including material charges and credits and changes in interest and income taxes follows our review of segment results.

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS DIVISION

 

     First Quarter  
(In millions)    2018     2017  

Products

   $ 1,261     $ 1,249  

Services

     67       66  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Sales

   $ 1,328     $ 1,315  

% change

     1     (4 )% 

Division operating income

   $ 55     $ 58  

% of sales

     4     4

Product sales in our Business Solutions Division increased 1% in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase in sales was primarily driven by growth in adjacency categories, online sales and acquisitions, partially offset by the impact of sales from omni-channel programs that are recorded in the Retail Division. On a product category basis, sales increased primarily in adjacencies, including cleaning/breakroom and furniture, partially offset by decreases across the other primary product categories for the first quarter of 2018. Sales of services in our Business Solutions Division increased 2% compared to the same period in the prior year, reflecting the Company’s focus on business services.

Division operating income was $55 million in the first quarter of 2018 as compared to $58 million in the first quarter of 2017. The decrease in the Division’s operating income in the first quarter of 2018 was driven by lower gross profit primarily resulting from conversion costs associated with the final customer migrations from the legacy OfficeMax platform that was completed during the quarter, as well as higher marketing expenses related to the Company’s demand generation strategy.

 

28


Table of Contents

RETAIL DIVISION

 

     First Quarter  
(In millions)    2018     2017  

Products

   $ 1,115     $ 1,208  

Services

     129       150  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Sales

   $ 1,244     $ 1,358  

% change

     (8 )%      (10 )% 

Division operating income

   $ 72     $ 112  

% of sales

     6     8

Comparable store sales decline

     (4 )%      (5 )% 

Product sales in our Retail Division decreased 8% in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease resulted from planned store closures over the past twelve months, a 4% decline in comparable store sales in the quarter and approximately $4 million of lower sales related to the adoption of the new revenue recognition accounting guidance, partially offset by the positive impact of sales from omni-channel programs. Sales of services in the first quarter of 2018 decreased 14% in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in the prior year primarily due to $25 million of lower sales related to the adoption of the new revenue recognition accounting guidance.

Comparable store sales in the first quarter of 2018 decreased 4%, reflecting lower store traffic, transaction counts and average order values. Comparable store sales decreased across most of our primary product categories, including ink, toner, computers and technology related products, partially offset by increased sales in cleaning and breakroom products.

Our comparable store sales relate to stores that have been open for at least one year. Stores are removed from the comparable sales calculation one month prior to closing, as sales during that period are largely non-comparable clearance activity. Stores are also removed from the comparable sales calculation during periods of store remodeling, store closures due to hurricanes or natural disasters, or if significantly downsized. Our measure of comparable store sales has been applied consistently across periods, but may differ from measures used by other companies.

The Retail Division reported operating income of $72 million in the first quarter of 2018, compared to $112 million in the first quarter of 2017. The decrease in the Division’s operating income in the first quarter of 2018 reflects the negative impact of lower sales and gross profit, as well as higher marketing and advertising expenses to drive store traffic during the quarter.

Charges associated with the store closure program are reported in Merger and restructuring expenses, net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. These charges are reflected in Corporate reporting, and are not included in the determination of Division income. Refer to “Corporate” discussion below for additional information of expenses incurred to date.

COMPUCOM DIVISION

 

     First Quarter  
(In millions)    2018     2017  

Products

   $ 46     $ —    

Services

     211       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Sales

   $ 257     $ —    

Division operating income

   $ 5     $ —    

% of sales

     2     N/A  

The CompuCom Division was formed in the fourth quarter of 2017 after the completion of the acquisition of CompuCom on November 8, 2017. Refer to Note 2. “Acquisitions” in Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

 

29


Table of Contents

OTHER

Certain operations previously included in the International Division, including our global sourcing and trading operations in the Asia/Pacific region, which we have retained, are presented as Other. The operations primarily relate to the sale of products to former joint venture partners, and are not material in any period.

CORPORATE

The line items in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations included as corporate activities are Merger and restructuring expenses, net and Asset impairments. These activities are managed at the corporate level and, accordingly, are not included in the determination of Division operating income for management reporting or external disclosures. In addition to these charges and credits, certain selling, general and administrative expenses are not allocated to the Divisions and are managed at the corporate level. Those expenses are addressed in the section “Unallocated Expenses” below.

There were no asset impairments in the first quarter of 2018 and 2017. The table below summarizes the major components of Merger and restructuring expenses, net, followed by a narrative discussion of the significant matters.

 

     First Quarter  
(In millions)    2018      2017  

Merger and transaction related expenses, net

     

Severance and retention

   $ 2      $ —    

Transaction and integration

     7        6  

Facility closure, contract termination, and other expenses, net

     3        4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Merger and transaction related expenses, net

     12        10  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Restructuring expenses

     

Severance

     —          9  

Facility closure, contract termination, professional fees and other expenses, net

     5        1  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Restructuring expenses

     5        10  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Merger and restructuring expenses, net

   $ 17      $ 20  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Merger and transaction related expenses, net

Included in the 2018 Merger and transaction related expenses, net in the table above are expenses associated with the acquisitions in the first quarter of 2018 and fiscal 2017, including CompuCom. Transaction and integration expenses in 2018 primarily related to legal, accounting, and other third-party costs incurred by us associated with the acquisitions and integration of acquired companies. Such costs are being recognized as incurred. Severance and retention expenses include retention amounts incurred related to the integration of staff functions and are being expensed through the retention period as well as termination benefits related to certain supply chain integration activities. Also included in the Merger and transaction related expenses, net in the first quarter of 2018 in the table above are $3 million of integration expenses and $3 million of facility closure costs associated with the 2013 OfficeMax merger.

2017 Merger and transaction related expenses, net are related to costs associated with the 2013 OfficeMax merger, and include a gain of $1 million from the sale of a warehouse facility as part of a supply chain integration plan.

Restructuring expenses

During 2017, we announced a multi-year strategic transformation to pivot from a traditional office product retailer to a broader omni-channel business services, product and technology provider which included the acquisition of CompuCom. As part of the new strategy, we will expand our technology and business service offerings and accelerate the offering of new subscription-based services, including expanding our service offering to address the needs of small businesses. As part of this multi-year strategic shift, we anticipate incurring additional costs over the next few years including professional fees, severance and other related costs. Included in restructuring expenses in the first quarter of 2018 in the table above are professional fees of $4 million associated with this restructuring plan.

Restructuring expense in 2017 and $1 million of restructuring costs in the first quarter of 2018 were associated with the Comprehensive Business Review strategy (the “Comprehensive Business Review”) announced in August 2016 which included the closure of approximately 300 retail stores in North America over a three-year period, and the reduction of operating and general and administrative expenses through efficiencies and organizational optimization. We incurred approximately $99 million in costs to implement the cost savings programs to date.

 

30


Table of Contents

Expenses associated with implementing the Comprehensive Business Review include severance, facility closure costs, contract termination, accelerated depreciation, professional fees, relocation and disposal gains and losses, as well as other costs associated with the store closures. We have completed 137 of the planned 300 retail store closures since announcing this initiative, and anticipate closing 18 additional stores during the remainder of 2018. The Company will continue to re-evaluate the store closure program on an annual basis. Severance costs related to planned store closures are being accrued through the anticipated facility closure or termination date and consider timing, terms of existing severance plans, expected employee turnover and attrition. Restructuring expenses also include severance and reorganization costs associated with reductions in staff functions that continued into 2017.

Refer to Note 3, “Merger and Restructuring Activity” in Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Unallocated Expenses

We allocate to the Divisions functional support costs that are considered to be directly or closely related to segment activity. Those allocated costs are included in the measurement of Division operating income. Other companies may charge more or less of functional support costs to their segments, and our results therefore may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. The unallocated costs primarily consist of the buildings used for our corporate headquarters and personnel not directly supporting the Divisions, including certain executive, finance, audit and similar functions. Unallocated costs also include the pension credit related to the frozen OfficeMax pension and other benefit plans. Additionally, the pension plan in the United Kingdom that has been retained by us in connection with the sale of the European Business, as well as certain general and administrative costs previously allocated to the International Division that have been excluded from the discontinued operations measurement have been included in corporate unallocated costs.

Unallocated costs were $38 million and $25 million in the first quarter of 2018 and 2017, respectively. The increase in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 primarily resulted from higher incentive costs associated with our overall performance compared to plan, and certain executive costs.

Other Income and Expense

 

     First Quarter  
(In millions)    2018      2017  

Interest income

   $ 6      $ 6  

Interest expense

     (29      (13

Other income, net

     1        4  

In the fourth quarter of 2017, we entered into a $750 million Term Loan Credit Agreement, due 2022. Borrowings under the agreement were issued with an original issue discount, at an issue price of 97.00%, and bear interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus 7.00% (or an alternative base rate plus 6.00%). We recorded $18 million of interest expense in the first quarter of 2018 related to the agreement.

Discontinued Operations

Refer to Note 4 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the businesses accounted for as discontinued operations.

Income Taxes

Our effective rate for the first quarter of 2018 differs from the statutory rate of 21% enacted as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on December 22, 2017 in the United States due to the impact of excess tax deficiencies associated with stock-based compensation awards, the impact of state taxes and certain nondeductible items and the mix of income and losses across U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions. Our effective tax rates in prior periods have varied considerably as a result of two primary factors, 1) the mix of income and losses across U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions, and 2) the derecognition of valuation allowances against deferred tax assets that were not more-likely-than-not realizable in the U.S. and certain non-U.S. jurisdictions. During 2018 and 2017, the mix of income

 

31


Table of Contents

and losses across jurisdictions, although still applicable, has become less of a factor in influencing our effective tax rates due to the dispositions of the international businesses and improved operating results. In addition, during 2017 a large portion of our deferred tax assets that previously were not realizable, became realizable, thereby, causing significant reductions in previously established valuation allowances. These factors have resulted in our effective tax rates being 40% for the first quarter of 2018 and 39% for the first quarter of 2017. Changes in pretax income projections and the mix of income across jurisdictions could impact the effective tax rate in future quarters.

During the third quarter of 2017, we concluded that it was more likely than not that a benefit from a significant portion of our U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets would be realized. This conclusion was based on a detailed evaluation of all available positive and negative evidence and the weight of such evidence, the current financial position and results of operations for the current and preceding years, and the expectation of continued earnings. We determined that our U.S. federal and state valuation allowance should be reduced by approximately $40 million in 2017, with approximately $37 million in the third quarter of 2017 as a discrete non-cash income tax benefit and the remainder as an adjustment to the estimated annual effective tax rate.

We continue to have a U.S. valuation allowance for certain U.S. federal credits and state tax attributes, which relate to deferred tax assets that require certain types of income or for income to be earned in certain jurisdictions in order to be realized. We will continue to assess the realizability of its deferred tax assets in the U.S. and remaining foreign jurisdictions in future periods. Changes in pretax income projections could impact this evaluation in future periods.

We file a U.S. federal income tax return and other income tax returns in various states and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, we are no longer subject to U.S. federal and state and local income tax examinations for years before 2016 and 2009, respectively. The acquired OfficeMax U.S. consolidated group is no longer subject to U.S. federal examination and with few exceptions, is no longer subject to U.S. state and local tax examinations for years before 2009. Our U.S. federal income tax return for 2016 is currently under review. Generally, we are subject to routine examination for years 2008 and forward in our international tax jurisdictions.

It is not reasonably possible that certain tax positions will be resolved within the next 12 months. Additionally, we anticipate that it is reasonably possible that new issues will be raised or resolved by tax authorities that may require changes to the balance of unrecognized tax benefits; however, an estimate of such changes cannot be reasonably made.

NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

For a description of new applicable accounting standards, refer to Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

At March 31, 2018, we had $737 million in cash and equivalents and another $881 million available under the Amended Credit Agreement (as defined in Note 5 of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements) for a total liquidity of approximately $1.6 billion. We currently believe that our cash on hand, availability of funds under the Amended Credit Agreement, and full year cash flows generated from operations will be sufficient to fund our working capital, capital expenditure, debt repayment, common stock repurchases, cash dividends on common stock, and merger integration and restructuring expenses for at least the next twelve months, although it is possible that a portion of our liquidity may be allocated in the future towards acquisitions consistent with our strategic growth initiatives.

At March 31, 2018, no amounts were drawn under the Amended Credit Agreement. There were letters of credit outstanding under the Amended Credit Agreement at the end of the first quarter of 2018 totaling $76 million and we were in compliance with all applicable financial covenants at March 31, 2018.

In addition to the acquisitions disclosed herein, we have evaluated, and expect to continue to evaluate, possible acquisitions and dispositions of businesses and assets. Such transactions may be material and may involve cash, our securities or the assumption of additional indebtedness (Refer to Note 2. “Acquisitions” in Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information).

In 2018, we expect capital expenditures to be approximately $175 million, including investments to support our critical priorities and the new store test format. These expenditures will be funded through available cash and operating cash flows.

 

32


Table of Contents

On May 27, 2016 the Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $100 million of our outstanding common stock, par value $0.01 per share. In August 2016, our Board of Directors authorized increasing the current common stock repurchase program from $100 million to $250 million. The stock repurchase authorization permits us to repurchase stock from time-to-time through a combination of open market repurchases, privately negotiated transactions, 10b5-1 trading plans, accelerated stock repurchase transactions and/or other derivative transactions. The program extends through the end of 2018 and may be suspended or discontinued at any time. The exact number and timing of share repurchases will depend on market conditions and other factors, and will be funded through existing liquidity. We expect that our ability to repurchase our common stock in 2018 will be significantly limited by the Term Loan Credit Agreement which contains certain restrictions on our ability to repurchase our common stock.

Under the $250 million stock repurchase program, we made no repurchases of our common stock in the first quarter of 2018.

Cash Flows

Cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities of continuing operations is summarized as follows:

 

     First Quarter  
(In millions)    2018      2017  

Operating activities of continuing operations

   $ 207      $ 88  

Investing activities of continuing operations

     (66      (22

Financing activities of continuing operations

     (41      (38

Operating Activities of Continuing Operations

During the first quarter of 2018, cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations was $207 million, compared to $88 million during the same period last year. Operating activities reflect outflows related to Merger, restructuring, and integration in 2018 and 2017.

The increase in cash flows from operating activities in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 was primarily driven by higher cash flows associated with changes in working capital partially offset by lower net income from continuing operations. The increase in cash inflows from working capital was primarily associated with an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses during the first quarter of 2018 compared to a decrease in the first quarter of 2017 partially offset by a smaller decrease in inventory levels in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. Working capital is influenced by a number of factors including period end sales, the flow of goods, credit terms, timing of promotions, vendor production planning, new product introductions and working capital management. For our accounting policy on cash management, refer to Note 1 of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Investing Activities of Continuing Operations

Cash used in investing activities of continuing operations was $66 million in the first quarter of 2018, compared to $22 million in the first quarter of 2017. The increase from the prior year is primarily a result of $30 million of cash used to acquire two businesses in the first quarter of 2018. During the first quarter of 2018 and 2017, capital expenditures were $37 million and $30 million, respectively. The cash outflow in the first quarter of 2018 and 2017 was partially offset by proceeds from the disposition of assets and other of $1 million and $8 million, respectively.

Financing Activities of Continuing Operations

Cash used in financing activities of continuing operations was $41 million in the first quarter of 2018, compared to $38 million in the first quarter of 2017. The increase from the prior year reflects larger net repayments on long and short-term borrowings which was mainly driven by the quarterly payment of $19 million related to the Term Loan Credit Agreement partially offset by $10 million less cash used to repurchase common stock and a $6 million decrease in cash used to purchase shares for taxes.

 

33


Table of Contents

Discontinued Operations

Cash provided by (used in) operating and investing activities of discontinued operations is summarized as follows:

 

     First Quarter  
(In millions)    2018      2017  

Operating activities of discontinued operations

   $ 10      $ 14  

Investing activities of discontinued operations

     30        (49

Until individual disposal groups were sold, cash moved between discontinued operations entities and continuing operations entities. Intercompany transactions are eliminated in consolidation and balances are satisfied on or before closings. The change in cash flows of discontinued operations in the first quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 reflects the impact of the sale of the Australia business in the first quarter of 2018, as well as a $35 million cash payment in the first quarter of 2017 associated with the sale of our European business.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Preparation of these statements requires management to make judgments and estimates. Some accounting policies have a significant impact on amounts reported in these financial statements. A summary of significant accounting policies and a description of accounting policies that are considered critical may be found in our 2017 Form 10-K, in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates section of the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act Of 1995

This document, including the following discussion and analysis, contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Without limitation, when we use the words “believe,” “estimate,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “may,” “project,” “probably,” “should,” “could,” “will” and similar expressions in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we are identifying forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements appear in a number of places in this discussion and analysis and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers with respect to, among other things, trends affecting the Company’s financial condition or results of operations and the outcome of contingencies such as litigation and investigations. Readers are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. More information regarding these risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is set forth in our discussion of Risk Factors, found in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 28, 2018 (the “2017 Form 10-K”), and Forward-Looking Statements, found in Part I of our 2017 Form 10-K.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

At March 31, 2018, there had not been a material change in the interest rate, foreign exchange, and commodities risks information disclosed in the “Market Sensitive Risks and Positions” subsection of the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations set forth in Item 7 of our 2017 Form 10-K.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

We maintain controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be in this report is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well

 

34


Table of Contents

designed and operated, can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the possible controls and procedures. Each reporting period, we carry out an evaluation, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”,) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”,) of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act.

Based on management’s evaluation, as of March 31, 2018, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the CEO and CFO, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There has been no material change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

We are in the process of integrating CompuCom and the other companies acquired during 2017 and 2018 into our overall internal control over financial reporting processes. In addition, during the first quarter of 2018, we implemented certain internal controls over financial reporting in connection with our adoption of the new revenue recognition standard.

 

35


Table of Contents

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

For a description of our legal proceedings, see Note 12, “Commitments and Contingencies,” of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those previously disclosed in the Company’s 2017 Form 10-K.

 

36


Table of Contents

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

In the first quarter of 2018, we made no repurchases of our common stock in connection with the share repurchase program that was approved by the Board of Directors in May 2016 and amended in August 2016.

 

Period

   Total
Number
of Shares
Purchased
(In thousands)
     Average
Price Paid
per Share
     Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of a Publicly
Announced Plan or
Program
(In thousands)
     Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Repurchase
Programs
(a)
(In millions)
 

December 31, 2017 – January 27, 2018

     —        $ —          —        $ 62  

January 28, 2018 – February 24, 2018

     —        $ —          —        $ 62  

February 25, 2018 – March 31, 2018

     —        $ —          —        $ 62  
  

 

 

          

Total

     —             
  

 

 

          

 

(a) In May 2016, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $100 million of our outstanding common stock. The stock repurchase authorization permits us to repurchase stock from time-to-time through a combination of open market repurchases, privately negotiated transactions, 10b5-1 trading plans, accelerated stock repurchase transactions and/or other derivative transactions. In August 2016, the Board of Directors authorized increasing the share repurchase program to $250 million. The authorization extends to the end of 2018 and may be suspended or discontinued at any time. Under our Term Loan Credit Agreement, our ability to continue to repurchase common stock is significantly restricted.

The exact number and timing of share repurchases will depend on market conditions and other factors, and will be funded through existing liquidity.

In February 2018, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.025 per share of our common stock. On March 15, 2018, a cash dividend of $0.025 per share of common stock was paid to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 2, 2018, resulting in total cash payment of $14 million. Dividends have been recorded as a reduction to additional paid-in capital as we are in an accumulated deficit position. Additionally, payment of dividends is permitted under our Amended Credit Agreement provided that we have the required minimum liquidity or fixed charge ratio, but may be limited if we do not meet the necessary requirements. Additionally, under our Term Loan Credit Agreement, payment of dividends is permitted subject to compliance with an annual limit.

 

37


Table of Contents

Item 6. Exhibits.

Exhibits

 

    10.1    Letter Agreement between Office Depot, Inc. and Dan Stone, dated March 26, 2018.
    10.2    Retention Agreement between Office Depot, Inc. and Dan Stone, dated March 26, 2018.
    10.3    Letter Agreement between Office Depot, Inc. and Joseph T. Lower dated December  29, 2017 (Incorporated by reference from Office Depot’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 4, 2018).
    10.4    Form of Office Depot Inc. Indemnification Agreement (Incorporated by reference from Office Depot’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2018).
    31.1    Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of CEO
    31.2    Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of CFO
    32    Section 1350 Certification
(101.INS)    XBRL Instance Document
(101.SCH)    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
(101.CAL)    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
(101.DEF)    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
(101.LAB)    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
(101.PRE)    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

38


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

    OFFICE DEPOT, INC.
                (Registrant)
Date: May 9, 2018     By:  

/s/ Gerry P. Smith

    Gerry P. Smith
    Chief Executive Officer
    (Principal Executive Officer)
Date: May 9, 2018     By:  

/s/ Joseph T. Lower

    Joseph T. Lower
    Executive Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
   

(Principal Financial Officer)

Date: May 9, 2018     By:  

/s/ Scott A. Kriss

    Scott A. Kriss
    Senior Vice President and
    Chief Accounting Officer
   

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

39

EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

 

LOGO

 

 

March 26, 2018   

CONFIDENTIAL

Dan Stone

11149 McClure Manor Drive

Charlotte, NC 28277

Dear Dan:

It is with great pleasure that I confirm our offer of employment with Office Depot. We are looking forward to having you as part of our team.

This letter confirms the details of the offer, which are set forth below. The terms of this letter supersede and replace all prior letter and agreements with CompuCom including, but not limited to, the January 23, 2015 offer letter, the August 20, 2015 amendment to the offer letter, the June 22, 2016 second amendment to the offer letter, the July 10, 2017 letter and the September 30, 2017 amendment to the letter.

Position: President, CompuCom reporting to the Chief Executive Officer.

Base Salary: You will be paid $575,000.00 annually, which is subject to deductions for taxes and other withholdings as required by law. This annual amount will be paid as a weekly salary which you will receive on a bi-weekly basis. As an exempt employee, your hours in this position may fluctuate, and each weekly portion of your salary will compensate you for all hours you work during that week.

Start Date: April 1, 2018

Location: CompuCom Headquarter Office, 8106 Calvin Hall Road, Fort Mill, SC 29707

Bonus Eligibility: You will be eligible to participate in the Office Depot, Inc. 2018 Corporate Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).    Any incentive payable under the Plan for 2018 will be paid in 2019, no later than March 15, 2019, and subject to the Plan’s terms and conditions. The Plan currently provides an incentive target payout of 75% of your annual eligible earnings.

Long-Term Incentive Plan: You will receive an award equal to a value of $1,000,000.00 under the 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan at the time 2018 grants are made. The actual number of shares you will receive will be determined based on the methodology approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors for the 2018 annual grant. The award value of the 2018 grant is not a guarantee that the same or similar award will be made in future years.

Retention Bonus: You are eligible for a $1,000,000.00 retention bonus pursuant to the terms of the retention letter agreement enclosed. Please sign and return the retention letter agreement document within ten (10) days hereof (a return envelope has been provided for your convenience).

Retention Equity: You will receive $500,000 in retention equity, which will be granted in the same manner as awards under the 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan.

Car Allowance: You are eligible for the Executive Car Allowance Program, which is intended to cover expenses associated with owning/leasing and maintaining a vehicle. The current allowance is a flat amount of $600.00 which will be included with your bi-weekly paycheck.


Dan Stone

Page 2

 

Paid Time-Off: You will be eligible for paid time off in accordance with the terms of Office Depot’s Paid Time Off policy, as the terms may be amended from time to time (currently, 208 hours of paid time off per year).

Benefits: A summary of the benefits for which you will be eligible is enclosed.

Non-Compete Agreement: For and in consideration of the above compensation terms, the sufficiency of which you acknowledge by your acceptance of this position, enclosed is an important document, which requires your execution – the Associate Non-Competition, Confidentiality and Non-Solicitation Agreement. Please return this document within ten (10) days hereof (a return envelope has been provided for your convenience). Your offer for employment is also conditioned upon your representation that you do not have any post-employment obligations (contractual or otherwise) that would limit in any respect your employment with Office Depot and your contemplated duties or otherwise subject Office Depot to liability for breach of any such obligations. Your acceptance of employment shall constitute your affirmation of the foregoing representation.

Employment at Will/Severance: All employment with Office Depot is at will, and nothing herein shall be construed to constitute an employment agreement or deemed a guarantee of continued employment. In the event that at any time during your employment (except as provided in the CIC Plan (defined below)), you are terminated by Office Depot without Cause, or you resign for Good Reason, Office Depot will pay to you, less applicable taxes and other deductions required by law, the sum of (i) 18 months of your base salary at the rate in effect on the date of your employment termination, (ii) 18 times the difference between Office Depot’s monthly COBRA charge on your date of employment termination for the type of Company-provided group health plan coverage in effect for you on that date and the applicable active employee charge for such coverage, and (iii) bonus calculated based on actual performance under Office Depot’s annual bonus plan for Office Depot’s fiscal year in which the employment termination occurs, and your annual eligible earnings in the fiscal year in which the employment termination occurs, and (iv) any earned but unpaid annual bonus for the completed fiscal year preceding the fiscal year of termination, which unpaid bonus will be paid when annual bonuses are paid to other active participants for such fiscal year. Payment due under (iii), if any, will be made at the same time as payments are made to other active participants in the annual bonus plan following determination of actual performance by the Compensation Committee. Office Depot must deliver to you a customary release agreement (the “Release”) within seven days following the date of your employment termination. As a condition to receipt of the severance benefits specified in this section, you must (A) sign the Release and return the signed Release to Office Depot within the time period prescribed in the Release (which will not be more than 45 days after Office Depot delivers the Release to you), and (B) not revoke the Release within any seven-day revocation period that applies to you under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended; the total period of time described in (A) and (B) above is the “Release Period.” Office Depot will pay the severance benefits specified in (i) and (ii) to you in a lump sum within 15 days following the expiration of the Release Period. In the event you decline or fail for any reason to timely execute and deliver the Release or you revoke the Release, then you will not be entitled to the severance benefits specified in this section. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by Office Depot, the severance benefits specified in this section shall be in lieu of any severance payment or benefit under any Office Depot severance plan, policy, program or practice (whether written or unwritten) and, therefore, such severance benefits shall be the exclusive source of any severance benefits.

“Cause” means: (i) your willful failure to perform your material duties (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness); (ii) your willful failure to comply with any valid and legal directive of the CEO; (iii) your engagement in dishonesty, illegal conduct or misconduct, which is, in each case, materially injurious to Office Depot or its affiliates; (iv) your embezzlement, misappropriation or fraud, whether or not related to your employment with Office Depot; (v) your conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a crime that constitutes a felony (or state law equivalent) or a crime that constitutes a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; (vi) your willful violation of a material policy of Office Depot; or (vii) your material breach of any material obligation under this letter, the Associate Non-Competition,


Dan Stone

Page 3

 

Confidentiality and Non-Solicitation Agreement, or any other written agreement between Office Depot and you. Termination of your employment shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and until Office Depot delivers to you a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the Board, finding that you are guilty of the conduct described in any of (i) through (vii) above, after having afforded you a reasonable opportunity to appear (with counsel) before the Board. Except for a failure, breach or refusal which, by its nature, cannot reasonably be expected to be cured, you shall have thirty (30) business days from the delivery of written notice by Office Depot within which to cure any acts constituting Cause; provided, however, that if Office Depot reasonably expects irreparable injury from a delay of thirty business (30) days, Office Depot may give you notice of such shorter period within which to cure as is reasonable under the circumstances, which may include the termination of your employment without notice and with immediate effect. For purposes of this “Cause” definition, no act or failure by you shall be considered “willful” if such act is done by you in the good faith belief that such act is or was in the best interests of Office Depot or one or more of its businesses.

“Good Reason” means the occurrence of any one or more of the following, in each case without your written consent: (i) a material reduction in your Base Salary (as such annual base salary may be increased from time to time), except for across-the-board annual base salary reductions affecting the executive leadership team; (ii) the relocation of Office Depot’s principal executive office to a location more than fifty miles (or such longer distance that is the minimum permissible distance under the circumstances for purposes of the involuntary separation from service standards under the Treasury Regulations or other guidance under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”)) from its location on your Start Date and that results in a material increase to your normal daily commute, except for required travel on business for Office Depot or any subsidiary; (iii) the failure of Office Depot to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any successor to assume and agree to perform this letter and the CIC Plan; or (iv) material breach by Office Depot of any material provision of this letter, unless arising from your inability to materially perform your duties contemplated hereunder; provided, however, that you will only have Good Reason if you provide notice of termination to Office Depot of the existence of the event or circumstance constituting Good Reason specified in any of the preceding clauses within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of such event or circumstances and if such event or circumstance is not cured within thirty (30) days after Office Depot’s receipt of such notice of termination. If you initiate your separation from service for Good Reason, the actual separation from service must occur within sixty (60) days after the date of the notice of termination. Your failure to timely give notice of termination of the occurrence of a specific event that would otherwise constitute Good Reason will not constitute a waiver of your right to give notice of any new subsequent event that would constitute Good Reason that occurs after such prior event (regardless of whether the new subsequent event is of the same or different nature as the preceding event).

Change in Control Plan: You will be eligible to participate in the Executive Change in Control Plan (“CIC Plan”) which provides for severance in the event that you are involuntarily terminated following a Change in Control, as defined therein, at the Tier 1 level. Enclosed you will find a copy of the CIC Plan for your reference as well as a Notice of Selection for Participation in Executive Change in Control Severance Plan (“Notice”) which requires your acceptance prior to your effective participation in the CIC Plan. Please return the signed Notice to me along with your signed offer letter.

Tax Treatment: This letter will be construed and administered to preserve the exemption from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the guidance thereunder (“Section 409A”) of payments that qualify as short-term deferrals pursuant to Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(4) or that qualify for the two-times compensation exemption of Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii). With respect to other amounts that are subject to Section 409A, it is intended, and this letter will be so construed, that any such amounts payable under this letter and Office Depot’s and your exercise of authority or discretion hereunder shall comply with the provisions of Section 409A so as not to subject you to the payment of interest and additional tax that may be imposed under Section 409A. As a result, with respect to any amount that is subject to Section 409A (i) references to your termination of employment shall be deemed references to your “separation from service” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(h), and (ii) in the event you are a “specified employee” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(i) on the date of your separation


Dan Stone

Page 4

 

from service (with such status determined by Office Depot in accordance with rules established by Office Depot in writing in advance of the “specified employee identification date” that relates to the date of your separation from service or in the absence of such rules established by Office Depot, under the default rules for identifying specified employees under Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(i)), any amount that is payable to you in connection with your separation from service shall be paid six months after such separation from service (if you die after the date of your separation from service but before a payment has been made, such payment will be paid to your estate without regard to such six-month delay). You acknowledge and agree that Office Depot has made no representation to you as to the tax treatment of the compensation and benefits provided pursuant to this letter and that you are solely responsible for all taxes due with respect to such compensation and benefits.

Clawback Provisions: Any incentive-based compensation or other amounts paid to you pursuant to any and all agreements or arrangements with the Company will be subject to clawback under any applicable Company clawback policy (including any such policy adopted by the Company pursuant to applicable law, government regulation or stock exchange listing requirement).

Miscellaneous: Office Depot is required to verify your eligibility to work in the United States. Accordingly, on your first day of work at Office Depot, you must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form and provide original documentation establishing your identity and employment eligibility. The List of Acceptable Documents for this purpose is enclosed for your reference.

If you fail to provide the necessary documentation to establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States by the close of business of your second day of work, you will not be permitted to work at Office Depot.

Dan, we are excited to have you join management as President, CompuCom. I look forward to your response as soon as practicable.

Sincerely,

 

/s/ Gerry P. Smith

Gerry P. Smith
Chief Executive Officer

Enclosures

By signing below, I agree to and accept the terms of this offer of employment, as set forth herein, and waive the right to assert that this offer and/or the terms of this offer constitute “Good Reason” as that term is defined in any prior letter or agreement with CompuCom.

 

 

Dan Stone

   

 

Date

EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

 

LOGO

 

 

March 26, 2018   

CONFIDENTIAL

Dan Stone

11149 McClure Manor Drive

Charlotte, NC 28277

Dear Dan:

Office Depot is excited to have CompuCom as our technology services platform. During the integration period, we need to remain focused on delivering the best possible results for the Company and for our customers. You are a very valuable member of the Office Depot/CompuCom team and are needed to assist us in performing through the integration.

We are pleased to offer you a retention bonus opportunity, subject to the following terms and conditions:

1. Retention Period. Unless earlier terminated as hereinafter provided, the retention period shall commence on the date of this letter agreement and shall end on December 31, 2019 (the “Retention Period”).

2. Eligibility, Vesting and Payment. You are eligible to earn a retention payment of up to $1,000,000.00 (“Retention Payment”), if you remain actively employed by the Company or an affiliate until the last day of the Retention Period.

The Retention Payment shall vest in two equal installments of $500,000.00 (each, an “Installment”), with the first Installment to vest on December 31, 2018 and the second Installment to vest on December 31, 2019 (each, a “Retention Payment Date” and collectively, the “Retention Payment Dates”); provided that, you remain actively employed until the Retention Payment Date corresponding to an Installment in order to vest in that Installment. If you vest in an Installment, the Installment shall be paid to you in a lump sum, less applicable taxes or other deductions required by law, within sixty (60) days after the Retention Payment Date corresponding to that Installment. If prior to the Retention Payment Date corresponding to an Installment, your employment is terminated: (i) involuntarily by the Company for any reason other than the reason set forth in Section 3 below or (ii) voluntarily by you for any reason, that Installment shall be immediately forfeited.

Upon your receipt of the full Retention Payment under this letter agreement, the Company shall have no further obligation to you with respect to the subject matter under this letter agreement. This letter agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of forfeiture of all or a portion of the Retention Payment as provided above or upon the payment of the full Retention Payment.

3. Termination of Employment. If, prior to the last day of the Retention Period your employment is terminated by the Company for reasons which qualify you for payment of severance under the terms of your March 26, 2018 offer letter, such termination shall result in an immediate vesting of the remaining portion of the Retention Payment which has not yet vested. You will not be entitled to receive the Retention Payment if your employment terminates for any reason other than by the Company for reasons which qualify you for payment of severance under the terms of your March 26, 2018 offer letter prior to the last day of the Retention Period.

Any payment due under Section 3 is contingent upon you executing and, if applicable, not revoking the Company’s customary release and covenant-not-to-sue agreement. The Company will provide the release to you not later than seven (7) days after your termination date. You must (i) execute and return the release to the Company within the period specified in the release (which will not be more than 45 days after you receive it) and (ii) not revoke the release within any applicable seven-day revocation period (the


Release Period”). The Company will make payment of the amount payable under this Section 3, less applicable taxes, other deductions required by law, within fifteen (15) days after the expiration of the Release Period. Notwithstanding the above, if the timing of your execution of the release can impact the calendar year in which payment is made to you under this Section 3, payment will not be made until the later calendar year.

4. Interpretation. The Senior Vice President, Human Resources will be empowered to make all determinations or interpretations contemplated under this letter agreement, which determinations and interpretations will be binding and conclusive on you and the Company.

5. Successors: Transferability. This letter agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company. None of your rights under this letter agreement may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by you, other than by your will or under the laws of descent and distribution.

6. Withholding. The Company will be authorized to withhold from the payment of any portion of your Retention Payment that may become payable hereunder, the amount of any applicable federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

7. No Right to Employment or Other Benefits. This letter agreement will not be construed as a guarantee of continued employment.

8. No Trust Fund. This letter agreement will not be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any of its affiliates and you or any other person. To the extent that you acquire the right to receive payments from the Company or any of its affiliates under this letter agreement, such right will be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.

9. Other Plans. The Retention Payment that may become payable to you hereunder will not be taken into account in computing your salary or other compensation for purposes of determining any benefits or compensation payable to you or your beneficiaries or estate under (i) any retirement, life insurance or other benefit arrangement of the Company or any of its affiliates or (ii) any other agreement between you and the Company or any of its affiliates.

10. Section 409A. To the extent applicable, this letter agreement shall at all times be administered and construed in accordance with the requirements of section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Department of Treasury regulations and other guidance thereunder (“Code Section 409A”), including any applicable exceptions. Each Installment is a separate payment for purposes of Code Section 409A. The Company shall have authority to take action, or refrain from taking any action, with respect to the payments and benefits under this letter agreement that is reasonably necessary to comply with Code Section 409A. For the sake of clarity, payment of each Installment (as applicable), to the extent not forfeited as provided in Sections 2 and 3 above, shall be triggered by the first to occur of your termination of employment or the Retention Payment Date applicable to such installment, as provided in Section 2 above. To the extent that any compensation payable under this letter agreement constitutes deferred compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A, (i) the provisions of this letter agreement that provide for payment of such compensation that is triggered by your termination of employment shall be deemed to provide for payment that is triggered only by your “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section §1.409A-1(h) (“Separation from Service”), and (ii) if, on the date of your Separation from Service, you are a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i) (with such status determined by the Company in accordance with rules established by the Company in writing in advance of the “specified employee identification date” that relates to the date of such Separation from Service or in the absence of such rules established by the Company, under the default rules for identifying specified employees under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i)) and to the extent the Company makes a good faith determination that payment of such compensation must be delayed to comply with Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), payment of such compensation that is triggered by your Separation from Service shall be made on the first business

 

2


day following the six (6) month anniversary of the date of such Separation from Service (provided, however, that if you die after the date of such Separation from Service, payment will be paid to your estate in a lump sum without regard to the six-month delay that otherwise applies to specified employees). You acknowledge and agree that the Company has made no representation regarding the tax treatment of any payment under this letter agreement and, notwithstanding anything else in this letter agreement, that you are solely responsible for all taxes due with respect to any payment under this letter agreement.

11. Governing Law. The validity, construction, and effect of this award letter will be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without reference to principles of conflict of laws.

Please return an executed copy of this letter agreement to Matt VonDette in the enclosed envelope within ten (10) days. Any questions regarding this letter agreement should be directed to Matt VonDette at Matt.VonDette@officedepot.com or 561.438.8225.

Sincerely,

 

/s/ Zoe Maloney

Zoe Maloney
Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Acknowledged and Agreed:

 

 

Dan Stone

  

 

Date

 

3

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification

I, Gerry P. Smith, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Office Depot, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

/s/ Gerry P. Smith

Gerry P. Smith

Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)

Date: May 9, 2018

 

40

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification

I, Joseph T. Lower, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Office Depot, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

/s/ Joseph T. Lower

Joseph T. Lower

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial officer)

Date: May 9, 2018

 

41

EX-32

Exhibit 32

Office Depot, Inc.

Certification of CEO and CFO Pursuant to

18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Office Depot, Inc. (the “Company”) for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), Gerry P. Smith, as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Joseph T. Lower, as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, each hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to each officer’s knowledge:

 

  (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

  (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

/s/ Gerry P. Smith

Name: Gerry P. Smith

Title: Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)

Date: May 9, 2018

/s/ Joseph T. Lower

Name: Joseph T. Lower

Title: Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer)

Date: May 9, 2018

The foregoing certification is being furnished as an exhibit to the Report pursuant to Item 601(b)(32) of Regulation S-K and Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code and, accordingly, is not being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the Report and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (whether made before or after the date of the Report, irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing).

 

42